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Prescott OKs microtrench engineering standard and two fiber-license agreements; city cites protections for streets and competition
Summary
Prescott City Council unanimously adopted a new microtrench engineering detail and approved license agreements with WeCom and MetroNet, clearing the way for private fiber builds that city staff say will expand competition and bring local jobs while applying new standards to protect streets and utilities.
Prescott City Council voted 7–0 to adopt an amendment to the city’s general engineering standards adding a microtrench detail for fiber-optic installation, and approved separate license agreements with two private fiber providers: WeCom (City contract No. 2026-063) and MetroNet/Vexus Fiber LLC (City contract No. 2026-061).
Staff described a technical and legal review that led to the new microtrenching detail and an accompanying enforcement and inspection program. City engineers said three installation modes will be permitted under the new standard: aerial installation on existing APS power poles (about 45% of installs anticipated), directional boring and microtrenching. A technical committee including streets, utilities and pavement specialists participated in drafting the detail and reviewed restoration and inspection requirements.
Both license agreements passed 7–0 after company representatives described their local plans. WeCom told council it will invest approximately $38,000,000 of private capital to build fiber to roughly 26,000 households in Prescott and the surrounding area, employ a local operations team and open a Prescott office; the company said it expects to begin construction in September and to complete initial builds in about 18 months. MetroNet said it plans an initial private investment of about $18,000,000, expects to pass roughly 15,000 premises and to staff a local operations office (MetroNet estimated 30–40 local full-time jobs). Both companies said they will publish construction notices in advance, maintain websites and phone lines for resident questions, and coordinate with city staff on permitting and restoration.
Council and staff also discussed fees and regulatory constraints. The city attorney explained that under current Arizona telecommunications licensing law, cities may charge for permits and administration and may require pavement restoration and inspection, but the state statute limits or precludes charging a separate right-of-way use fee for telecommunications services; staff added that the city included a clearly defined annual-fee method in one contract to remove ambiguity about how right-of-way usage would be calculated and charged for that provider.
Why it matters: The actions establish a technical standard for a rapidly growing method of putting fiber in streets (microtrenching) and add two private providers that, together, commit tens of millions of dollars of private capital and local hiring. Staff emphasized the need to protect pavement life and ensure high-quality restoration during and after construction.
Discussion vs. Decision: Council formally adopted the ordinance to add the microtrench detail and approved both license agreements; both votes were unanimous. Council also asked staff to improve public outreach materials, to post videos and construction-process demonstrations on the project website so residents can visualize microtrenching and rock-cleaving methods, and to continue weekly technical coordination between the firms and city inspectors.
Additional details and safeguards described by staff included: pre-construction mailers and door notices, a designated city relations contact for each provider, monthly coordination meetings to review open tickets and restoration quality, and technical guidance based on site visits to other Arizona cities that have used microtrenching and directional boring.
